Inner liner for tire casings



Oct. l1, 1932. s. R. FETNER 1,882,129

INNER LINER FOR TIRE CASINGS Filed Aug. 19, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. l1, 1932. s. R. FETNER 1,882,129

,3. Retnef,

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES insane STEPHEN R. FETNER, 0F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA INNER LINER FOR TIRE cAsrNGs Application led August 19, 1931. Serial No. 558,138.

This invention relates toa resilient core or inner liner or frame adapted for use in place of an air-inflated inner tube within the casing or shoe of a rubber automobile vtire to keepthe tire casing elastically distended and to allow cushioning or Vshock absorbing actions of the tire corresponding to those afforded by the use of an inflated inner tube without the disadvantages attendant upon the use of such tube.

in my Vprior application for patent filed October 18, 1930, Serial No. 489,674, I have disclosed a core or inner liner or frame of this character which will hold the shoe securely' to the rim while resiliently backing theshoel and permitting cushioning movements thereof; which is adapted to be easily applied andremoved; which will not be affected by shoe punctures and will therefore form,.in effect, with the shoe a puncture proof tire;v and which, while overcoming the disadvantages of an air-inflated inner tube, will ontlast many successive tubes, and thereby maybe indenitely used and afford economy over the present practice of employing such tubes.

The object of thepresent invention is to provide a device of the stated character which simplifies and improves the construction and generally increases the efficiency of the device.

The invention consists ofthe features of construction, combination and a-rrangment of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing an automobile wheel equipped with a tire einbodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the rim and tire. Y

Fig. 8 is a` central section taken circumferentially of the wheel as on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2 through one of the core, linerk or frame units.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one ofthe jointed resilient band units.

Fig. 5 is aside View of one of the link connectors.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same and the ends of links connected thereby. s

F igs. Y7 and 8 are, respectively, top and bot tom plan views of one of the spring support- Ying saddle brackets, Fig. 8 also showing the engagement of a cushioning spring therewith. Figs. 9 and 10 are opposite side elevations thereof.

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective-views. of the rim sections of the liner or frame unit.

Fig. `13 is a View of a pair of rim sections associated with a stem to prevent creeping.

Figs. 14 and 15 are inner face views of the rim sections shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a side view of one of thepivot pins.

Fig. 17 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 18 is a plan view of the stem and associated pivoted links shown in Fig. 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 'designates the` felly of a wheel, to which is secured a channeled rim 2 carrying the tire casing or shoe 8.y This shoe or casing 3 may be of an ordinary type, splitat the rim (lll side and formed to provide the flanges 4 to seat within the rim.

vThe resilient inner core, liner or frame embodying my invention is adapted to fit within lthe shoe, and comprises an annular series of resilient units interlinked so that at'any point of compression of the tread of the shoe a plu-y rality of units will absorb the shock ofcompression. Each unit consists of `a jointed spring metal band 5 shaped to fit the inside of the shoe and formed of a tread section 6, ope posite side` sections7, and opposite base or rim sections 8, 8a and 8, 8a', united at their adjacent ends by pivotpins or members'9 of a construction hereinafter described. The band sectionsG and 7 are preferably madeof spring sheet steel of suitable gage, while the sections 8, 8a and 8, 8a are castings, preferably of some suitable spring metal. j

The sections 8, 8a and 8, 8a are curved on their rim sidesto lit the inner surfaces of the flanges 4 and partsof the side walls of the shoe adjacent thereto, and said sections 8,V 8a include outer arms 10, 11, innerarms 10a, 11a, and lateral arms 10b, 11b. The arms 10, 11 of the two sections 8, .8"1l are vformed with forked ends respectively providing pairs of knuckles 12, 12EL having sets of openings or eyes 12b and 12., said knuckles being crossed and the openwhereby said sections are pivotally coupled to permit them to move laterally and thus adapt the band to eXpand and contract in a lateral direction on lcompression of the shoe andits reaction and return to normal condition. The arms 10, 11 bear against the inner faces of the flanges 4 and operateas-'spreading and clamping members acting to V.transmit thereto the spreading,pressureof a spring 1 4 By this means the flanges 4 will be held securely seated inthe rimv channel, while, when! ever desired, by means of a suitabley toolinserted betweenoneofthe flanges 4 andthe ad- Y jacent side of the rim, the engaged flange 4 may be forced towardthe other flange 4, thus contracting therim side of theshoe, in which operation the spring '114will be compressed,

' to allow the shoe tbe unseated` from the rim'.

' Saddle-brackets l'and 17 are pivoted to theknuckles 12, 12by pivot pins V18 engaging Y openings in the brackets and the openings l1 2c in the sections4 8, 8a, whereby said sections 8f, 8a and` the brackets are coupled for'- lateral pivotal movements; lThe brackets carry fixed holding studs 20, 20a, which 'diverge outward radially .toward vcoactive inwardly converging holding studs 21a, 22au carried by brackets 21, 22'pi'vote`d for lateral swinging movements to the treadfband section 6 equidistantly on Y opposite sides of the center of thetire; C oiled springs 23, (one of which is shown) engage the respective setsof studs 20,21, 20a, 22a, and

- are adapted to sustain the compression shocks on theY tread of the shoe, to permitcushioning movement of the tread when so subjected to compression, and-to at all other times hold the shoe expanded. Y The studs are provided with 'longitudinal slots or grooves 20 to receive angularly bent end portions 21 of the springs whereby the stu'ds and springs, in'the manner [illustrated in Fig. 8, are properly guided and the springs held against rotation on the studs. The resilient band units are connected and held assembled at the ,tread point by link connectors or vcouplers A24 and link bars 24a.

Each link connector extendsacross the tread center of section 6 and is centrally pivoted to ears 25 formed on said section and has its oppositely proj ecting ends pivoted'to the ends of the link bars of adjacent bands by headed Qpins-25L held from displacement'by Cotter retaining openings 27` inthe sefactionsV 8, 8a, and operating to hold the parts yieldingly pins 25,as clearly shown in F ig. 2. Ati the treadside the units 'are connected atro'pposite sides by elastic band cords` 26'passing through unitedjat this point. Y j Y i A resilient core, liner or frame so w,construct- Vedinay be easily slipped inside a' tire shoe and applied with the shoe to the rim, the sections v10, 10a and 10a and 11a yielding inwardly .asianinflated inner tube, withoutrthe disadvantages of thelatter. to hold the flanges 4 pressed againstthe sides of the rim and to thereby maintainthe tire in position. The spring 14 engagesstuds 15 arl ranged on the inner faces of'thesections 8,8,a y between the sets of arms 10, 11 and 10a, 11a.

Suitable devices, one br more, may be employedto holdthecore or liner against creep- 'ing'in the shoej"I have shown one of such devicescomprising a stem28 passing through the felly and rim and into the tire Vand pivoted at'itsinner end by a headed pivot pinA 30 to links29 and 29a, which are in turn pivoted by similar'v pivot pinsBOa tothe clamp-` ing arms 10"" and 11a of rim section 8, 82 similarV to sections 8, 8: except thatthe arms 10a and'llat areprovided with eyes or`openings to receivethe pins 3 0. The outer end ofthe stem projects radiallyy inward of the rim, liketa-fvalve stemof a-pneumatic-tire,

and isthreaded to receive a nut 31" whereby the stem may be fastened tothe Arim or rcleased for withdrawal from the rim withl 'thetire The pivotl pins'may lbe held from displacement by keys or retaining pins'SO, as shown, for example, inFig. 18`,in connection with pin 30. c

The pivot pins 9 and 18 are preferably of thetype'shown in Figs. 16 and'17 in which the pin is shown as formed with a' spiral groove 32 to receive a lubricant of a suitable "sort which will keep thesurfaces ofthe parts lubricated, and prevent squeak ing, for a very lengthy period. Other means for the same purposeimay be employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in form,`proportion and details Vof construction of the parts may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without'departing from the spirit or Vvsacrificing' vany of thek advantages of the invention.

VWhat I claim is 1. An automobile'tire comprising an outer elastic tire casing, and a resilient core, yinner lining or frame therein consisting ofvan annular series of linked units, each 4composed of a resilient transverse bandformed'of tread, rim and side sections yieldingly backing theshoe, pivot pins connecting the tread i and side sections, apivot pin connectingthe rinr sections, compression springs between the rim sections and other sections ony opposite sides of'thelongitudmal center of the IUC treadfof thetire, and'supports for theQinnerf-' and outer ends of said springs respectively pivoted to the pivot pins uniting the tread and side sections and to the pivot-ally connected ends of the rim sections independent of the pivot pin connecting the same.

2. An automobile tire comprising an outer elastic tire casing, and a resilient core, inner lining or frame therein consisting of an annular series of linked units, each composed of jointed tread, rim and side sections, the rim sections having crossed and pivotally connected end portions, supports independently pivoted to the said crossed end portions of the rim sections beyond the pivotal connection thereof, supports pivoted to the core on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tread of the tire, and compression springs carried by said supports.

8. An automobile tire comprising an outer elastic tire casing, and a resilient core, inner lining or frame therein consisting of an annular series of linkedV units, each composed o tread, rim and side sections, the rim sections having crossed end portions, pivot pins uniting the tread and side sections, outer supports hinged to said pivot pins, a pivot pin connecting the crossed end portions of the rim sections,l inner supports hinged to the crossed end portions of the rim sections independently o each other and of said pivot pin, and compression springs carried by said supports. v

4. An automobile tire comprising an outer elastic tire casing, and a resilient core, inner lining or frame therein consisting of an annular series of linked units, each composed of tread, rim and side sections, the rim seotions having crossed end portions, pivot pins uniting the tread and side sections, outer supports hinged to said pivot pins, a pivot pin connect-ing the crossed end portions of the rim sections, inner supports hinged to the crossed end portions of the rim sections independently of each other and ofl said pivot pin, compression springs between the rim sections, and compression springs carried by said supports.

5. An automobile tire comprising an outer elastic tire casing, and a resilient core, inner lining or frame therein consisting of an annular series of linked units, each composed of jointed tread, rim and side sections, the rim sections having crossed and pivotally connected end portions, supports independently pivoted to the said crossed end portions of the rim sections beyond the pivotal connection thereof, supports pivoted to the core on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tread of the tire, compression springs between the rim sections, and compression springs carried by saidsupports.

Inl testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

STEPHEN R. FETNER. 

